Michael has been involved in graphics, children’s literature, TV and theatre since 1967. Michael’s many credits include his Alexander Bunyip show (ABC TV 1978-88), pantomimes, fabric and varied merchandise designs, toy and board-game invention and the writing and illustrating of 162 books..

1 review for The Down Under 12 Days of Christmas

Rated 4 out of 5

Jenny Mounfield –29 January 2019

‘On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me’
—no, not a partridge, folks, but—
‘a kookaburra in a gum tree.’

And it’s about time!

Aussie kids have been bombarded with snowy scenes and strange bird-life (not to mention lords and mild maids) since the fat dude in red was first sighted soaring across the heavens. But now, thanks to the wit and wisdom of Michael Salmon our kids will have a much more recognisable and relevant carol to sing this Christmas.

Everybody sing now:

‘On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me,
three wet galahs,
two snakes on skis,
and a kookaburra in a gum tree.’

Through hilarious text and busy illustrations bursting with colour, Salmon depicts all the animals we know and love (though maybe not so much the crocs and sharks)—each involved in a variety of mad-cap activities. Humour leaps like a lord from every page. And if the fun illustrations and rollicking sing-a-long aren’t enough to hold the attention of every child within a ten-metre radius, there is the added bonus of a colouring-in picture on the back page.

Down-under The 12 Days of Christmas is the perfect stocking-filler. In the classroom, it will pay for itself many times over in the lead-up to the school holidays when teachers are desperate for something to settle their restless charges. This book is a must-have for anyone with a child in their life. Highly recommended.

Michael Salmon has been involved in graphics, children’s literature, TV and theatre since the last ice-age (almost). Among his multitude of credits, which include the ever-popular, Alexander Bunyip (ABC TV), Michael has written and illustrated more than 160 books.